There have been heat waves and record-breaking temperature this summer, and with the hot weather comes dangerous impacts; children are dying of heatstroke.
Parent are underestimating the dangers of leaving their child alone in a car, and David Strickland, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a statement informing people of how to prevent tragedies from happening.
"I work with a talented and committed staff to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways each and every day," Strickland said in a blog for AD Council. "But all my years of safety work did not prepare me for the impact of the tragedy of young children who die or are severely injured from heatstroke when they're inadvertently left alone in a vehicle, often strapped in their car seat."
The death of a child associated with being trapped in a care has occurred more than 20 times this year. According to Strickland, 31 children in the United States died of heatstroke last year.
Though the numbers are at their lowest, the deaths are preventable. It can be as simple as a caregiver forgetting the child is in the back seat, leaving the child behind.
"When the thermometer hits the low 80s, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in only 10 minutes, even with a window rolled down two inches," Strickland said in the blog. "Temperatures inside a vehicle can climb to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes. This video reveals a series of little-known facts about heatstroke, like the fact that heatstroke can happen when outside temperatures are as low as 57 degrees, and that children's body temperatures can rise up to five times faster than that of an adult."
SafeKids.org came up with tips in the form of an acronym to reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke. Remember to ACT:
A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you're not in it so kids don't get in on their own.
C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you're not following your normal routine.
T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.
